When Square approached us to design their new San Francisco Headquarters, we arrived at several fundamental objectives: to foster an open, fully transparent corporate culture in keeping with their startup roots; to flexibly accommodate the company’s growth through clear and intuitive workplace organization; and to complement the company’s brand through careful consideration of architectural detail.
 
Our design transforms a former Bank of America data center into a first class workspace. Constructed in two phases, the project encompasses nearly 300,000-square-feet of space distributed over four floors. The large floor plates allow many employees close proximity and also pose a challenge to organizing space. This challenge was addressed by designing a workplace that relies on principles of urban design. By taking cues from urban precedents in cities ranging from Dubrovnik to Savannah, the design establishes clear circulation routes with visual landmarks that break down the scale of the vast floor plates.
 
A central boulevard serves as the organizational spine for the office floors. Lined with communal tables and cabanas, and punctuated by 'civic' landmarks—including a library, gallery, and cafe—the boulevard functions as a primary hub for team collaboration and social interaction. Along the boulevard, a delicatessen and coffee bar each provide unique dining alternatives to the company’s full-service restaurant.
 
Anchoring the boulevard, a monumental amphitheater stair unifies the office floors and provides a flexible venue for a host of activities, from individual focus to large presentations. Custom white square tables support these activities while also providing a delicate sculptural counterpoint to the grand gesture of the stair. On the eighth floor, a more intimately scaled ‘Square Stair’ connects the office floor to the main dining level. By connecting all four floors along this central boulevard, the design encourages chance encounters and generates vitality comparable to the urban marketplace the company serves.

Photography: Matthew Millman